Route 66 (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas)

This past week I’ve been riding the historic Route 66. From Santa Rosa, New Mexico, I crossed into the top of Texas (7/16), then to the middle of Oklahoma (7/17), into the corner of Kansas (7/18). In Texas, I had lunch again at the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, TX. I ate there in 2017 when I was west bound. The place is full of nostalgia and signs. They are dedicated to keeping the memory of the mother road alive. The “Midpoint” is exactly 1139 miles in and equidistant between Santa Monica and Chicago.







In Oklahoma, I crossed myself in Oklahoma City and was invited to spend the evening with the Fankhouser’s again on my way through. 

The scenery changes quickly on Route 66. Different towns offer different levels of preservation or dilapidation, depending on the circumstances. The landscape goes from high dessert to rolling hills, to flat prairie. Lots of agriculture and small towns. The Americana of yesteryear lurks in the shadows of neon gardens and museums. The “old road” is barely passable in some areas and is either closed or limited. The ride videos capture a sense of what I saw, but I wasn’t able to capture all of it. 



 

One of the most reassuring things about traveling Route 66 is seeing a sign. This lets you know you’re on the right path. It’s very easy to miss a turn and get frustrated. When this happens, I stop, get my bearings, and get back on the right road. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens. Also, people steal signs! This has got to be the most frustrating. A sign post up and no sign. I just know is was a Route 66 marker, but did it have an arrow on it? Most areas have taken to the practice of painting the Route 66 image on the street! This is very helpful. What I noticed is that when I think I am going down the wrong road, one of these signs shows up.



We encounter signs in our daily life that tell us to stop, yield, how to go, where to go, what to do, which way to get to the entrance or exit, etc. It would be hard to get through life (or ride Route 66) without signs.
Signs also play a significant role in Holy Scripture. Like the signs in our life, the signs in scripture are meant to give information and point beyond themselves. Sometimes they are directional, sometimes they are reassuring. Signs are visible and tangible.

In the Gospel according to John, Jesus spoke of signs is several different ways. Jesus performed signs and miracles which were evidence of his divine authority, but he said that sometimes people require visible signs in order to believe, but this shouldn’t the foundation of faith. In Matthew, He warned about false prophets preforming great signs and wonders to deceive others. 

Challenge to St. James & Self: Look for the signs! I’ve heard our former presiding bishop, Michael Curry say many times, “If it’s not of Love, It’s not of God!” In a world full of contrasting opinion and vile hatred and ridicule, look for the love. That will most certainly be the way of God.

7/16/2025
Santa Rosa, NM to Amarillo, TX
Ride: 207 miles

7/17/2025
Amarillo, TX to Moore, OK
Ride: 286 miles

7/18/2025
Moore, OK to Baxter Springs, KS
Ride: 258 miles








Location: Baxter Springs, KS 66713, USA

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This Week!

Overnight in Camas, WA

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Today I road from Port Angeles, WA to the Washington / Oregon Boarder at Camas, WA to the home of Gary and Mari Osterhage. Marni and I graduated from FMA together in 1985, so we’ve been friends for 44 years! It was good to spend the evening with Marni and Gary and catch up. Marni is a children’s pastor at a Four Square Gospel Church, so of course we talked shop for some of the evening. The ride today was great until just outside of Portland, OR headed to Camas, WA (on the boarder). I road down the Hood Canal (Hwy 101) and the Columbia River. Beautiful scenery.  Marni and I were talking about God and relationship. She recently passed her licensing and ordination for her denomination, so she was telling me about her process. One of the questions was about Trinity. I shared with her the “master class” sermon that Heather Holland gave at St. James on Trinity Sunday. I appreciated when Heather told the congregation that the preacher would be better off sharing photos of Kittens during t...
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Weekend in Oklahoma City

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Yesterday (Saturday 7/8), I rode 66 from Joplin, MO through the "corner of Kansas," 1/2 way through Oklahoma to Oklahoma City (actually Moore, OK) where my friends, The Fankhauser's, live. Bill Fankhauser was my roommate sophomore year at The Citadel, and we haven't seen each other since 1989. He recently retired from the USAF and now works in the private sector. Catching up with Bill and meeting his family over the past couple of days has been fantastic. Saturday evening we went into Oklahoma City and ate dinner then walked along the riverwalk. It was a very nice evening.  This morning (Sunday 7/9), I attended Mass with the whole Fankhauser family at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Norman, OK. It was very encouraging for me to be staying with a family who goes to church together after we had breakfast as a family. (And no, this wasn't because of me being there) Worship is a regular thing in the Fankhauser house... regular attendance at Mass,...
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Bucket List - Route 66

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Yesterday, I began a journey that has been on my bucket list for several years... to travel (by motorcycle) the Iconic/Historic Route 66 from Chicago to California. I left Mequon, WI, where I spent the 4th of July holiday with the Millers and traveled south to Chicago to start at the beginning of the Route. It begins (although contested) at Michigan Ave and Adams Street, downtown Chicago, IL. Thank goodness, traffic wasn't horrible.  I'm a bit of a purist, so it is important to me to start at the beginning and follow where the Route takes me. This includes all the little side roads and iterations. If given a choice, I take the earliest (1920-1930 era) Route. So far it is beyond my wildest dreams. It has it ALL... nostalgia, Americana, a sense of sacredness, history, travel, degradation, restoration and renewal, awkwardness (when you miss a sign!), trust, and adventure. I have no idea where I am going... (except to California). I am trusting the road and its winding path through...
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First Night Out

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I left this morning about 8am. My first stop was Starbucks for some coffee and a nut bar. However, that's not the point of my reflection today. My reflection is packing and re-packing... I will probably pack two or three different times until I get it right. I'm not one to leave my creature comforts at home, so I took as much as I thought I needed. I am sure that I will end up sending some back home.     I found this scripture fitting. “Then Jesus said to them, “When I sent you out with no money bag, or traveler’s bag, or sandals, you didn’t lack anything, did you?” They replied, “Nothing.” He said to them, “But now, the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler’s bag too. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘ And he was counted with the transgressors.’ For what is written about me is being fulfilled.” So they said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” Then he told...
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Day Two!

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Woke up wet!! There was a big rain storm last night so I had to pack wet. The tent kept me nice and dry. The morning I had to rig for rain, but ended up being a great riding day. The trip to NY was great. When I got to Gilbert Lake, I was excited that there was no rain in the forecast, so I opened up and hung everything out to dry. I decided to sleep under the stars... I bit nippy to do that at 51 degrees.     I have often said that it's not about the destination, it's about the journey. What we do on the journey, the people we encounter, the way we act, the lives we touch, the lives that touch us, the roads we travel, all have a formational piece to them. Our Christian life is about the journey (and sometimes we have to pack wet - knowing the soggy mess will be with us at the next destination.) So much for mixing metaphors. I have the versus in Exodus rolling around in my head every time I put up and take down a tent. The Israelites were a nomadic people when they ...
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Tossed Salad and Scrambled Eggs!

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For some reason, I can't think about Seattle without the crazy theme song from Frazier running through my brain. Well, I guess now that it's running through your brain if you've ever seen the show, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Guess where I am!! That is correct, today I rode from Camas, WA to Seattle, WA to meet up with and stay with some more friends. It almost seems that I have more friends in the Pacific North West than I do in the East. I first met up with Cathy Banks on the South side of Seattle. We met for coffee and to catch up. Cathy and I actually went to Chesapeake Demonstration School together. CDS was an experimental elementary school in Chesapeake Virginia in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Cathy and I lost touch after I went to Frederick and she moved to Florida. She and I were in school together from 1st to 8th grade. It was great to catch up with Cathy after 36 years. I then went to meet up with Jenna Ingersol. Jenna is like a second daughte...
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Getting Ready for Sabbatical 2025

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I’ve said before that preparation for a long journey is just as important as the journey itself. This time it’s been interesting. I have been preparing the trip, getting my gear together and making sure that I have the right amount of stuff. I’m packing much lighter than I did in 2017, and I feel that will be a blessing. A pilgrimage is about the journey rather than the destination. I want to be "free" to experience the pilgrimage "by the Spirit," so I think it's important not to plan every segment of the trip. There are places I’d like to go that I didn’t have the opportunity to go in 2017 because of weather or other obstacles. I have entitled the sabbatical: A Pilgrimage of Reconnection and Renewal: An Episcopal Priest’s Journey to the Four Corners. Therefore, I will attempt to reach the four corners of the contiguous United States on my journey and offer prayers at the four corners.  I have planned out a route that begins here in Greeneville, TN and goes East...
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